The Election Official Who Tried to Prove “Stop the Steal”

Plus: the Trumpification of the judiciary; Beto O’Rourke finds new hope; and Rosie O’Donnell on life after daytime TV. View in browser | Update your preferences Wednesday, September 7, 2022 In today’s newsletter, in search of voter fraud, and then: • The Trumpification of the judiciary • Beto O’Rourke finds new hope in Texas • Rosie O’Donnell on life after daytime TV The Election Official Who Tried to Prove “Stop the Steal” How a group of conspiracy theorists enlisted a county clerk in Colorado to find evidence that the 2020 vote was rigged. Illustration by Kristian Hammerstad An election clerk, the owner of a hair-and-makeup business, a high-school math and science teacher, a former pro surfer in disguise, and a pillow salesman who thinks that Australia and Canada are dictatorships—that was the group that intersected with an alleged plot to make unauthorized copies of the software used on Dominion Voting Systems machines in Mesa County, Colorado, in an effort to identify evidence of voter fraud from 2020. Sue Halpern lays out the outrageous story, one that would be funny if it weren’t so alarming—part of a wider, coördinated campaign to “erode public confidence in elections, drive people away from the polls, and put poll workers and election officials in harm’s way.” Just imagine what those with better planning skills might be able to accomplish. —Ian Crouch, newsletter editor Read the story The New Yorker Festival: Subscribers can now buy tickets for our signature event, taking place October 7th through 9th in New York City. See the lineup » From the News Desk Daily Comment The Mar-a-Lago Raid and the Trumpification of the Judiciary Two years after judges appointed by the former President defied him to defend democracy, others may now help him upend it. By David Rohde Letter from the Southwest The Supreme Court May Have Given Beto O’Rourke a Chance As a candidate for Texas governor, O’Rourke was considered a long shot. But the state’s new—and extreme—abortion restrictions have galvanized his campaign. By Rachel Monroe Q. & A. Where the Trump Investigation Goes After a “Poor” Judicial Decision A judge appointed by Trump ordered the D.O.J. to stop using the documents seized at Mar-a-Lago, pending review by a special master. By Isaac Chotiner Editor’s Pick The New Yorker Interview Rosie O’Donnell Is Still a Fan The actress and former talk-show personality discusses Madonna, “A League of Their Own,” knowing when to make a public apology, and life after feel-good daytime TV. By Rachel Syme Culture Dept. Culture Desk How Mathematics Changed Me If one is inclined toward mysteries, mathematics can lead one to the conclusion that behind the veil of life there is a structure and an order. By Alec Wilkinson Culture Desk The Cartoon Mystery That Stumped the Internet Do you recognize this elf-like man? No, he’s not from “The Littles.” By Will Sloan The New Yorker Documentary Survivors of Solitary Confinement Tell Their Stories in “The Box” A new documentary short offers a window into the harsh reality of solitary confinement—and the long-term scars that it leaves. Film by James Burns and Shal Ngo Text by Jackson Vail The New Yorker Live: Tonight, Maggie Rogers talks with Questlove and performs in New York City. Subscribers can watch a live stream of the sold-out event at 8 P.M. E.T. » Fun & Games Dept. Name Drop Play Today’s Quiz Can you guess the notable person in six clues or fewer? By Will Nediger Daily Shouts Are You Ready to Eat the New Hottest Pepper in the World? So far, seven people have attempted to sample the Pompeii Spider Monkey pepper; this has resulted in the deaths of seven men with weird beards. By Eric Farwell Crossword A Lightly Challenging Puzzle Piece that can’t go backward: four letters. By Erik Agard Daily Cartoon Wednesday, September 7th By Matt Reuter P.S. Before the singer and actor Harry Styles was in the news for (gestures generally) whatever was happening this past weekend at the Venice Film Festival, Katy Waldman reviewed a new book arguing that passionate fans like those of Styles’s former boy band, One Direction, helped create the voice of the Internet—and how Styles, in particular, has inspired a sometimes toxic form of obsessive fandom. Today’s newsletter was written by Ian Crouch. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters and invite a friend to sign up for The Daily. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2022. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.